The Shed That Fed 2 Million Children
The Mary’s Meals Story
-
- 7,99 €
-
- 7,99 €
Description de l’éditeur
Speaking Volumes Christian Book of the Year 2016
In 1992, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow was enjoying a pint with his brother when he got an idea that would change his life – and radically change the lives of others.
After watching a news bulletin about war-torn Bosnia, the two brothers agreed to take a week’s hiatus from work to help.
What neither of them expected is that what began as a one-time road trip in a beaten-up Landrover rapidly grew to become Magnus’s life’s work – leading him to leave his job, sell his house and direct all his efforts to feeding thousands of the world’s poorest children.
Magnus retells how a series of miraculous circumstances and an overwhelming display of love from those around him led to the creation of Mary’s Meals; an organisation that could hold the key to eradicating child hunger altogether. This humble, heart-warming yet powerful story has never been more relevant in our society of plenty and privilege. It will open your eyes to the extraordinary impact that one person can make.
Reviews
“One simple decision, and thousands of starving children have been fed. That’s what Magnus did.” – Gerard Butler
“Through the grace and love provided by Mary’s Meals, there is hope, there is a future, there is life.” – Celine Dion
“This book is a must-read for anyone wishing to see how one person can change the life of millions.” – Duncan Bannatyne
About the author
Magnus started his career as a Salmon farmer in rural Argyll, but when the Balkan conflict began, he and his brother were so moved by the scenes on television that they gathered a jeep-load of aid and joined a convoy travelling to Bosnia to distribute it. On his return home, Magnus expected to resume his job, however, he came back to discover that the public had carried on donating and instead he continued organising and distributing aid. In 2002 his work led him to Malawi, where he met a family whose situation would alter the course of his work, and Mary’s Meals was born.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This is an inspiring if disordered account of the creation of international humanitarian organization Mary's Meals from the perspective of its founder. MacFarlane-Barrow takes readers from the group's headquarters i.e., his parents' shed in Scotland to the countries, including Malawi, Kenya, and Haiti, where it has provided aid to thousands of children. The nondenominational Christian charity works aims to give children one meal a day in their place of education, thus providing two developmental necessities simultaneously. The program has seen great success in the participating towns and schools, where student attendance has increased significantly. The story MacFarlane-Barrow tells is one of dedication, hope, and a bit of luck. In many ways it reads as his memoir, especially since the organization's creation was a personal endeavor, involving many members of his immediate family as well as a worldwide community. The narrative is not particularly well organized, jumping too rapidly among different time periods and countries, but the overall message remains inspiring and heartfelt.
